THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Members of the Black Community from across Germany and Europe will converge on the city of Nuremberg on Saturday (22 September) for the second edition of ‘Night of the African Living Legend Award & Recognition’.
Organised by the African German Information Centre (AGIC) Hamburg, the event’s aim is to shine the spotlight on people of African descent in Germany and their contributions to society.
“Often neglected in the mainstream media, many in their diverse walks of life are active in advancing the ideal of a successful multicultural society,” said Kenneth Gbandi, Director of the African Living Legend Initiative.
“The main aims of the Night of the African Diaspora Living Legends are to illuminate the potential and achievements as well as promote the goals of the International Decade of People of African Descent in Germany and Europe.”
The event, taking place within the context of the International Decade (2015-2024), also aims to contribute to efforts against racism and xenophobia and promote a better image of Africa in Germany.
The event also seeks a more active community participation in integration and development projects. “It’s important that we’re integrated in initiatives that seek to better our conditions here or in our countries of origin,” Gbandi, who is also the Director AGIC and chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe, added.
“The Award is dedicated to remarkable individuals of African descent whose work impact positively on Africa as well as outstanding individuals and corporate entities of non-African descent who positively contribute to changing perception about Africa,” Gbandi said.
Among those nominated for the 2018 ‘African Living Legend Award’ are Vivian Chioma Timothy, an artist; Irene Appiah, Bildungsreferentin Behörde für Schule und Berufsbildung Hamburg, co-initiator ACF & co-initiator Bildung ohne Grenzen; Femi Awoniyi, journalist and publisher of The African Courier; Eddy Duru, member of the Immigration Council, Kassel; and Delphine Epote, Director of African Ivory Germany Centre.
Other nominees for the prestigious award are Dr. Peter Tschentscher, the Lord Mayor of Hamburg; Kenneth Dazaa Aaniama (a.k.a. Dazaa Dazaa), musician and founder of Deutsch-Nigerianisches Kunst- und Kultur Forum Verein; and Lewis Samuel-Ehiwario, Head of Station, German Red Cross Kassel.
Mary Summer, Voice of Germany – RTL, will host the 2nd Edition of Night of the African Living Legend Award & Recognition.
The event, staged by AGIC in collaboration with African Heritage Magazine, Stadt Nürnberg and Afrodeutsche Verein e.V., is supported by Engagement Global Außenstelle Baden-Württemberg/Bayern.
Ade Abiola
Night of the African Living Legend Award & Recognition
Date: Saturday, 22 September 2018
Venue: Ringhotel Loew’s Merkur, Nürnberg
Time: 18.00 hours
More Information: Faith Oloruntoba
African German Information Center (AGiC) Hamburg
Süderstr 153, 20537 Hamburg
Phone: +494088307280
Email: info@agic-hamburg.de
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About the International Decade for People of African Descent
The International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015–2024, was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly and adopted on 23 December 2013. The theme of the Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”. The Decade highlights the human rights situation of the African diaspora worldwide and aims to fight racial discrimination and create visibility for the contribution of people of African descent in the societies they live in.
The seeds of the Decade were planted in 2001 at the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in South Africa, which led to the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. In addition to declaring that the people of Africa had been victimised by slavery and continued to suffer as a result, the Declaration called for states to adopt specific steps to help to combat racism and xenophobia and to protect its victims.
In collaboration with the Central Council of African Communities in Germany, the Initiative of Black People in Germany and other civil society groups, the Kaneza Initiative for Dialogue and Empowerment co-ordinates the activities for the implementation of the Decade in Germany.
Elizabeth Kaneza, director of the Kaneza Initiative for Dialogue and Empowerment, is the Decade’s Fellow for Germany and one of the three Fellows in Europe appointed by the UN.
